State's No. 1 Republican Voices 'Contract' Concerns

April 6, 1995|By Michael Griffin, Tallahassee Bureau Chief

TALLAHASSEE — The ''Contract With America'' drew criticism Wednesday from Florida's highest-ranking Republican, Senate President Jim Scott, who said Washington's welfare reform package could be a financial blow to the state.

Florida's federal aid would lag behind its population growth under the proposal that passed the U.S. House of Representatives, Scott said. The state would be forced to make up the difference through higher taxes or deep cuts to Medicaid and welfare.

''If they're going to give us block grants, then they should give us the money and turn us loose,'' said Scott, R-Fort Lauderdale. ''I'm concerned that's not what's happening.''

Scott's comments echoed complaints from Republicans in Texas and New Jersey, who worry they will be made to pay politically for the cuts.

U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, said Scott and other Florida leaders shouldn't be concerned. Shaw, who had a hand in writing the welfare reform measure, said Florida will be protected.

''It's doesn't bother me that they are expressing concerns, that's their jobs,'' Shaw said of the growing chorus of state-level Republicans criticizing the GOP plan. ''This is going to be a great opportunity for Florida and other states. We believe they can do a better job than the federal government.''

The U.S. House plan would pour federal dollars into block grants and send them to the states to be spent as legislators choose. The problem is that the plan caps yearly growth in grants at 5 percent.

Gov. Lawton Chiles has argued that would cripple Florida, Texas, California and other states where the population has grown dramatically in the past five years. States such as Ohio and Michigan - which show little or no population growth - would greatly benefit.

''The governor has stressed this again and again and it's good to see President Scott has gotten into it now,'' Chiles spokeswoman Jo Miglino said. ''This has got to be a bipartisan effort if we're going to avoid a real crisis.''

Florida's Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services reported Wednesday that the plan would cost Florida $414 million over five years in Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits. For example, it would eliminate support for 175,000 legal immigrants and 8,600 children born yearly to mothers on welfare.

HRS Secretary Jim Towey said the effect of the plan is to shift the financial burden of paying for social programs onto the states. The provision against using federal money for legal aliens would force Florida to pick up the tab if children of aliens are abused, neglected or abandoned, he said.

''It's a giant hole that the federal government is saying it may no longer fill,'' Towey said. ''We will either have to invest millions of additional state dollars or significantly cut services to the poor, the disabled, the elderly and abused and neglected children.''